Hot on the heels of earlier power outages late February, Eskom suspended Stage 2 load-shedding on Thursday morning, March 20 (2025), after implementing rolling blackouts the previous evening due to the sudden breakdown of five generation units.
The power utility has yet to confirm whether further outages will occur over the long weekend, which includes Friday’s Human Rights Day holiday, leaving South Africans in limbo as they prepare for the break.
Wednesday’s breakdown and temporary relief
Eskom announced on Wednesday that Stage 2 load-shedding began at 6.25pm after five generation units failed ahead of the evening peak demand period.
The outages were initially expected to last until 5am on Thursday but were suspended earlier than anticipated. The utility has not disclosed which units malfunctioned, citing ongoing efforts to stabilize the grid.
“While we have made notable progress in our generation recovery efforts, Eskom faced the loss of five generation units before the peak period,” the utility said in a statement. “Consequently, Stage 2 load-shedding was implemented at 18:25 and will remain in effect until 5:00 tomorrow.”
Eskom generation head Bheki Nxumalo acknowledged the challenges faced during the utility’s two-year recovery plan, stating, “We again apologise to the nation for this temporary setback.” He attributed delays to returning tripped units to the grid and the phased reintroduction of three longer-term outage units, which are expected to restore 2,500MW in the coming weeks.
Winter preparedness and public appeal
The utility emphasised its focus on planned maintenance to bolster grid reliability ahead of winter, while adhering to environmental and licensing requirements. However, it urged consumers to reduce electricity use, stating, “In light of the ongoing system constraints, we urge the public to use electricity sparingly.”
Political | public backlash
The Democratic Alliance (DA) lambasted Eskom’s latest outage, with shadow minister of mineral resources and energy Kevin Mileham calling for immediate reforms.
“The DA shares in the outrage of all South Africans at this bout of Loadshedding with zero notice. We stand together in outrage. This shows the incontrovertible need for a competitive energy generation market,” he said.
Mileham demanded Eskom’s “immediate horizontal unbundling to break its monopoly and end its ongoing failure to meet South Africa’s electricity needs,” adding, “South Africa needs new generation capacity to be built now!”
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town confirmed the suspension of load-shedding on Thursday but advised residents to limit consumption. “The lower the power usage, the better the chances of the City offering protection to customers,” it warned.
Tariff hikes and lingering concerns
The outage follows NERSA’s approval of a 12.74% electricity tariff hike for Eskom, adding financial strain to households already grappling with unreliable supply.
While the system showed signs of stabilisation earlier in the week, the sudden loss of 2,700MW in early March—which triggered Stage 3 loadshedding—underscores persistent vulnerabilities.
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Long weekend uncertainty
With Friday marking a public holiday, Eskom has not yet clarified whether load-shedding will resume over the long weekend (visit Eskom to check loadshedding status). The utility reiterated its commitment to avoiding a return to 2023’s severe outages, but officials stressed that public cooperation remains critical to mitigating demand.
“Eskom sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused and will continue to provide updates as required,” the utility said.
As South Africans brace for potential disruptions, the nation’s energy crisis continues to cast a shadow over economic recovery and daily life.
